Moscow expects that Kyiv will agree to hold elections in the “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” while Putin sees possible release of Savchenko as a public demonstration of the Kremlin's willingness to compromise able to stimulate manageability of the Ukrainian authorities.

Serhii Rakhmanin wrote in his article for ZN.UA citing own sources, Censor.NET reports.

"According to our sources, the Russian president has personally promised Angela Merkel to return Nadiia to the homeland (most likely by granting her a pardon and subsequently exchange for captured GRU operatives). At the same time the passing of a verdict to her was postponed as the Kremlin master's reaction to violent protests near the Russian diplomatic missions in Ukraine," the article reads.

"However, having Savchenko's release in his plans, Putin pursues another goal: he seems to be inclined to believe that her stay in a Russian prison makes his life harder while being at large in Ukraine, she may turn into a problem for Poroshenko, who is far less decisive than the brave prisoner, who has said from behind the bars that "Russia can be made knuckle under if one have stomach for it..." Rakhmanin wrote.